"Easiest" vs. "Hardest" areas of law in which to practice ...

I was kind of thinking about this ... I was wondering if there is some consensus about which areas of law are the really insanely difficult (difficult being - most hours put in, most real WORK at the job, etc.), and what areas of laws were known as more laid back (less hours worked, more 'slacking' perhaps?) - or does it all depend on the particular atmosphere of the firm?

If I had to guess based on the very little I've heard, this elusive "Big Law" seems to be the most hell-ish, while the Real Estate attorneys seem to perhaps have it the easiest? (Well, maybe not - but I've heard of some that work for Sibsy Cline that make about 250,000/year and don't do much, but I also know a lady who works insanely hard as a real estate agent - but she has her own partnered firm). What about tax attorneys? They seem to be so looked down upon for some reason, but is it b/c their jobs are easy? Or is it just easy if they are good at math?

Oh, and don't think I'm *looking* for an easy area of law in which to practice, I was just thinking about it since being "an attorney" can mean SO many things and is really a diverse job. I also really don't know what area of law interests me yet ... family law seems somewhat interesting, but I won't pretend to know much about it right now I also thinking teaching at a law school might be a great experience when I'm older after getting many years of experience under my belt!

Fortunately, that is a misleading (and way overused) quote ... it's more "those who don't feel like it" or "don't feel like fighting for" the job in question. (especially in areas of performance, I would say)

Bully for you for coming in with a hackneyed phrase trying to show how cool you are

Those who can't teach, counsel. Those who can't counsel, administrate. Those who can't administrate, enter data into the computer. Those who can't enter data into the computer, take dictation. Those who can't take dictation, alphabetize files. Those who can't alphabetize files, answer the phone. Those who can't answer the phone, fry hamburgers. Those who can't fry hamburgers, run the cash register. Those who can't run the cash register, wait on tables. Those who can't wait on tables, carry dishes to the kitchen. Those who can't carry dirty dishes to the kitchen, wash the dirty dishes. Those who can't wash the dirty dishes, peel potatoes. Those who can't peel potatoes, buff the floor. Those who can't buff the floor, haul out the garbage. Those who can't haul out the garbage, write poetry. Those who can't write poetry, write clever letters to the editor. Those who can't write clever letters to the editor, write angry letters to the editor. Those who can't write angry letters to the editor, spray paint graffiti. Those who can't spray paint graffiti, write screenplays. Those who can't write screenplays, write TV scripts. Those who can't write TV scripts, read scripts for the studios. Those who can't read scripts for the studios, act. Those who can't act, take acting classes. Those who can't take acting classes, sing. Those who can't sing, sing Rock 'N' Roll. Those who can't sing Rock 'N' Roll, sing it anyway. Those who can't sing it anyway, become depressed. Those who can't become depressed, get bitter. Those who can't get bitter, get confused. Those who can't get confused, stay confused. Those who stay confused, find it difficult to complete unfinished sentences. Those who find it difficult to complete unfinished sentences...

An attorney is an attorney is an attorney. Tax attorneys don't sit around doing math and looking at tax returns all day. That's an accountant.

EDIT:You won't find out what's hardest until you take a class that you hate. That will be the hardest... for you.

A finer point. Accountants don't do 'math,' either. They do arithmetic, at best.

Tax attorneys are busy (or perceived as such) because tax law is, in and of itself, demanding, technical, and difficult. They must understand the Internal Revenue Code and understand laws regulating (most frequently) real estate, corporate txns, and estates. And then put them together. Kind of a lot to know, eh?

challandler

I also thinking teaching at a law school might be a great experience when I'm older after getting many years of experience under my belt!

That's nearly impossible in today's academic market unless you come back to teach clinics or legal writing. More than a few years of experince actually hurts your chances, and, to be honest, most academic positions are taken by students from a few elite schools.

Speaking of which, I know the teaching market is dominated almost entirely by HYS, with Chicago also taking a sizable chunk, with Mich and UvA also producing plenty of teachers but not nearly on the same level. In your experience with Michigan so far, do you think teaching is actually a viable option for top students there, or do the chances already seem too dismal?